Philippine Heroes and Heroines

Links in both home and pages about noted Philippine heroes and heroines like Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Gabriela Silang, Tandang Sora, Princess Urduja are provided for users wishing to dig into their works and lives.

Monday, October 29, 2012

VERY early in the morning of December 30, 1896 before his
execution, Rizal’s mother and his sisters visited him in his prison cell.

Rizal called Saturnina’s attention and whispered to
her: “Bring the lamp home. Inside is a piece of paper. Keep it.”

Back home, Saturnina gingerly opened the lamp as
bidden. Lo! Opening the piece of paper, it reads “Mi Ultimo Adios” It was Rizal’s poem, My
Last Farewell. Rizal had hidden it
inside the lamp to prevent from falling into wrong hands.

Pandanggo sa Ilaw with lighted lamps or candles as props

IT was the annual fiesta in Calamba, Laguna, Rizal’s
hometown. Colorful bands provided sweet
and hot music as background.
Multi-colored buntings gaily decorated the houses and streets. In the plaza was a program where throng of
people was gathered. Loud voices of
appreciation and clapping of hands were audible as a pair of dancers finished a
number.

It was Soledad, Rizal’s youngest sister, and his partner who
had just danced Padanggo sa Ilaw performing balancing acts using lighted
candles in glasses to the delight of the audience.

The Spanish Governor General who was the main guest for the
day, called for Soledad to get near him, ask her name and told her he had also
a daughter in Spain who’s as old as she and who knew Spanish dances. Then the Governor General said: “Ask your wish and it shall be granted.”

In tears, Soledad looked straight into the guest’s eyes and
answered: “My mother is in prison. Will you grant her, her freedom?" Right then and there the Governor General set
free Aling Doray, Rizal and Soledad's mother.

Rizal’s Study Lamp and the Moth

THIS part of the hero’s life will remind us of our younger
days. This episode dates back to his
boyhood days in their hometown in Calamba. It was time for study. All the lights of the house were out except
the oil lamp on the study table.

Aling Doray was engrossed telling a story to motivate her
son Pepe to read. But Pepe wasn’t paying
attention. He was attracted by a young
moth who came flying towards the lighted lamp.
It circled and circled, closer and closer towards the light. Then it singed its wings on the glowing fire
and fell dead on the table.

Oil lamp then was the main light used during those times.

Oil Lamp

Pepe thought deeply and sighed. He asked his mother why the moth fly to the
light despite danger of death. Aling
Doray answered: “It loves the light very
much even if it costs dear life.” Deep
in thought, Pepe said, “How beautiful is the light. When I’m old enough, I shall look for a much
brighter light, much brighter than our oil lamp.” Then mother and son made the sign of the
cross and prayed for divine protection before going to sleep.

Source: Three Lamps in the Rizal Family, The Modern Teacher,
June 1994

Rizal's Childhood Memories

Rizal, 11 years old

Earliest Childhood Memories:

Jose Rizal had many beautiful memories of his childhood in
his native town Calamba. It’s scenic beauties and it’s industrious, hospitable,
and friendly folks profoundly affected his mind and character. The happiest
period of Rizal’s life was spent in this lakeshore town.

The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was in the family
garden when he was 3 yrs. old. Because he was a frail, sickly and undersized,
he was given the tenderest care by his parents. His father built a Nipa cottage
for him to play in the daytime.

Another childhood memory was the daily Angelus prayer. By
nightfall, his mother gathered all the children at the house to pray the
Angelus.

He also remembered
the aya (nurse maid) who related to the Rizal children many stories about
fairies; tales of buried treasure and trees blooming with diamonds and other
fabulous tales.

Of his sisters, Jose loved most little Concha (Concepcion) who was a year younger than him.
He played with her and from her he learned the sweetness of sisterly love.

Unfortunately, Concha died of sickness in 1865 when she was
only 3 yrs. old. Jose cried bitterly at losing her. The death of Concha brought
him his first sorrow.

Rizal grew up a good catholic. At age 3, he would take part
in the family prayers. When he was 5 yrs. old, he was able to read the Spanish
family bible.

He loved to go to church, to pray, to take part in novenas,
and to join religious processions.

One of the men he esteemed and respect in Calamba was the
scholarly Father Leoncio Lopez, the town priest. He used to visit him and
listen to his stimulating opinions on current events and sound philosophy of
life.

On June 6, 1868, Jose and his father left Calamba to go on a
pilgrimage to Antipolo, in order to fulfill his mother’s vow, which was made
when Jose was born. After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, Jose
and his father went to Manila to visit Saturnina, who was a boarding student in
La Concordia College in Santa Ana.

Of the stories told by Dona Teodora, Jose remembered the
Story of the Moth. The tragic fate of the young moth, which “died a martyr to
it’s illusions”, left a deep impress on Rizal’s mind. He justified such noble
death, asserting that “to sacrifice one’s life for it”, meaning for an ideal,
is “worthwhile”. And, like that young moth, he was fated to die as a martyr for
a noble ideal.

At age of 5, he began to make sketches with his pencil and
to mould in his clay and wax objects. Jose had the soul of a genuine artist. He
also loved to ride the pony that which his father gave him and take long walks
in the meadows and lakeshore with his black dog named Usman.

Aside from his sketching and sculpturing talent, Rizal possessed
a God-given gift for literature. At age of 8, Rizal wrote his first poem in the
native language entitled Sa Aking Mga Kababata (To My Fellow Children).

After writing his first poem, Rizal who was then 8 yrs. old,
wrote his first dramatic work which was a Tagalog comedy.

Rizal was also interested in magic. He learned various
tricks, such as making a coin disappear and making a handkerchief vanish in
thin air. He read many books on magic and attended performances of the famous
magicians in the world.

Rizal at 11 years of age was a student at the Ateneo
Municipal de Manila (picture above).

Rizal

Josephine Bracken

Dr. Jose Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary celebrated

Manila : Philippines | Jun 20, 2011

Dr, Jose Protacio Rizal was born on June 1861 to Francisco
Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonzo y Quintos in the town of Calamba, Laguna,
Philippines.

Rizal was the 7th member of the family with 11
siblings, 9 girls and 2 boys himself
included. He and Josephine Bracken lived as de facto husband and wife in
Dapitan in 1896 and had a son who lived for only 3 hours after his birth.

The News Proper:

The celebration marking the 150th birth anniversary of Dr.
Jose Rizal had for its venue the historical Fort Santiago in Manila. Despite
the rains that poured
Sunday, the occasion was attended by
guests and relatives of the national hero.

Liza Bayot, one of Rizal’s descendants, spearheaded the
activities. She stressed the importance of educating the Filipinos, especially
the youth on Rizal’s achievements and his beloved wife.

Some visitors have artists drawn their portraits. The Ateneo
Chamber Singers sang series of patriotic songs. Singer Cris Villonco gave her
soulful rendition of the song "Hanggang."

Rizal's clans were excited and happy having an intimate
get-together. They said this is the best gathering they've had in years. They
had to color code Rizal’s descendants for easy identification.

Nine-year-old Gino Herbosa, who descended from Rizal's sister Lucia, said he is proud to tell his
friends that his Lolo is a national hero.

June 19 was a day filled with festivities marking the
historic birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal all over the country. But for
Rizal’s direct descendants, it was a time to reconnect, celebrate and ensure
that the spirit of their "Lolo Pepe" lives on.